Note Definition
A note is a musical sound of a specific pitch and duration. Notes are typically combined into melodies, phrases, or chord progressions, and are also the building blocks of many other types of music-related concepts. The term ‘note’ can be used in both a technical and non-technical sense.
In its most basic form, a note is simply a sound with a specific pitch and duration. For example, middle C on a piano has a pitch of C4 (the fourth C above middle C), and lasts for about two seconds when played at a moderate tempo. However, notes can also be classified according to their function within a piece of music. In this context, notes can be divided into four main categories:
Pitch: Notes can be either high or low in pitch. Melody: A melody is made up of a series of notes that are played in succession. Harmony: When two or more notes are played simultaneously, they create harmony. Rhythm: Rhythm refers to the placement of notes in time.
While the technical definition of a note is fairly straightforward, its non-technical meaning can be open to interpretation. In general, though, when we talk about ‘a note’ in non-musical terms, we’re referring to something that is brief but important – like a memo or message.
